Chicago's new archbishop to live in rectory at Holy Name Cathedral

Chicago — Archbishop Blase Cupich, who will succeed Chicago Cardinal Francis George in mid-November, told the priests of the Chicago archdiocese that he has decided he will live in the rectory at Holy Name Cathedral.

He said Wednesday that he made the decision in consultation with George, Msgr. Dan Mayall, who is the cathedral's pastor, and several Chicago priests.

The rectory is the former residence of retired Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Lyne, who died in 2013 at age 94. The living quarters are named for the late bishop.

NBC's Chicago affiliate reported Wednesday that Cupich had decided not to live in "what's known as the Cardinal's Mansion in the Gold Coast," where George lives with four other priests. The mansion is worth more than $14 million and is more than 125 years old, NBC Chicago reported. After Cupich is installed in the archdiocese, George plans to move to an apartment in a building next to the cathedral, Casa Jesus.

At one point, George considered selling the mansion to raise scholarship money for Catholic education, NBC Chicago reported.

Cupich said that among other considerations, he wanted to live in a place where he can be most effective in serving all the people in the Chicago archdiocese. When his schedule permits, the archbishop intends to say daily Mass at the cathedral. The location also provides easy access to his office at Archbishop Quigley Center.

He said he also recognized the historical significance of the cathedral residence.

It has been the home of all the archbishops of Chicago since it was built in 1885 by Archbishop Patrick Feehan. It hosted St. John Paul II and two of his predecessors before they were elected pope, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, the Vatican secretary of state who became Pope Pius XII in 1939, and Cardinal Giovanni Montini, who worked closely with Pope Pius XII, and became pope in 1963.

Cupich, who will be installed Nov. 18 during a Mass at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, said he plans to use his residence for official archdiocesan functions and to host guests.

He also announced that he will establish the Archbishop's Residence Committee, which will study the best uses of the facility for the benefit of the mission of the archdiocese.